Prince George author Hilary Crowley recently published her third travel memoir, Mini Saga in South Africa, and she will be holding a book launch Saturday October 28 at Art Space above Books & Co. at 7 p.m. She will be doing a couple of short readings followed by a slideshow of her travels and signing books. Light refreshments will be available.
Mini Saga in South Africa transports the reader to Apartheid South Africa and explores the country through the eyes of two young English health professionals. They work long enough in each city to support their travels and take every opportunity that comes their way.
They meet influential people, including archdeacon of Zululand, Charles Johnson and Bishop Zulu and are taken on a tour of Zululand by canon Ken Johnson. They spend a week in a cave with archaeologist Harald Pager, studying Bushman rock art. They join the anti-apartheid Progressive Party and meet their only MP, Helen Suzman. These encounters and many more are interspersed with stories of hiking and climbing in the Drakensberg mountains. They also go on safari in a less than roadworthy Mini which leads to some exciting adventures.
The author had unique experiences due to the influential people she met on her travels. This is a travel memoir of a year spent in Southern Africa, exploring the geography, politics and stunning natural environment. She touches on the racial inequities in Canada and the rest of the world compared to the policy of Apartheid in South Africa. Her interest in politics, her love of the outdoors and a later career in overseas development all stem from her experiences during this year in South Africa. This book is a testament to the importance of expanding one’s horizons and grasping every opportunity that comes our way.